The Formula One teams and Pirelli take a step into the unknown this weekend with the inaugural United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas: a newly-built track that has never been raced on before.

The Italian firm is bringing the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium tyres: a reasonably conservative compound choice for a circuit where there are still a number of unknown factors when it comes to tyre performance. The teams will be given an extra set of the hard tyre for Friday’s two free practice sessions in order to help them learn the all-new track.

One sure thing is that the Texas circuit will be fast and challenging, with warm ambient temperatures adding to the mechanical demands placed on the tyres. The 5.515-kilometre track features varying elevations that alternate slower and more technical sections with other areas that are very quick. Initial information suggests that the track surface will be quite smooth.

The opening sector of the lap is particularly demanding, with a uniquely profiled hairpin turn one and then a rapid sequence of direction changes from turns four through to six: reminiscent of Silverstone or Spa. This puts a lot of energy through the tyre structure, particularly the outside tyre that has to withstand the majority of the cornering forces. Traction is also a vital aspect of tyre performance in America in order to find optimal grip coming out of the slower corners.

With no data from previous years to fall back on, Pirelli has used advanced simulation technology to predict how the tyres might behave on the Austin circuit. The teams will also use similar data when it comes to formulating some initial ideas about race strategy; however the information gained from free practice will be even more vital than usual. Teams will be aiming to collect as much tyre data as possible on both full and empty fuel tanks and the extra set of hard tyres should enable them to maximise their running.

Pirelli’s motorsport director says:

Paul Hembery: “Austin is one of just three new tracks for us in Formula One competition this year, alongside Bahrain – which we’ve tested at previously – and Hockenheim, where we previously raced in GP3. So in many ways America will be the biggest challenge for us of the year, but stepping into the unknown is a situation that we are used to: last season the majority of tracks were completely new to us. We’ve chosen the hard and the medium compounds as we think it will be quite a demanding track, based on the asphalt samples and simulation data we have gathered. Naturally we’ve leaned towards a slightly more conservative choice in order to cover every possibility at a brand new circuit, but the tyre choice in Abu Dhabi was also conservative and yet we saw one of the most exciting races of the year. We’re all absolutely delighted to be returning to America with Formula One: it’s a crucial market for us as well as being the home of many of the most enthusiastic fans out there. We’ve felt a huge buzz about this race, and with the championship so finely poised it couldn’t come at a better time.”

The men behind the steering wheel say:

Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing): “I was in Austin after the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2006, catching up with some friends over there and I remember it as a really cool city. I remember there were lots of great options for food, everyone was pretty laid back and didn’t take themselves too seriously: it was nice to just have that sort of relaxed atmosphere in the city. I’ve heard from my guys out there that everyone is pumped and excited about the race being on. Formula One traditionally has been very dominant in Europe so it’s good that we are going back to the States. We know there’s a huge number of motorsport fans in America, as you have big categories like NASCAR and Indycar; even some of the dirt track stuff is huge. The track looks pretty quick: it’s got some very fast changes of directions, left-rights and fifth/sixth gear stuff, which is not hanging around for us. It looks like they’ve done a really good job and there are lots of undulations, which is important. With a new track there are always things we don’t really know until we get there, such as the subtleties of the cambers of the corners, which we will find out about on Friday.”

Pirelli’s test driver says:

Jaime Alguersuari: “I don’t know anything at all about the Circuit of the Americas – I’ve only ever seen some photographs and videos – but it looks like a great track and a lot of fun to drive. It’s clear that all the teams have good knowledge of all the Pirelli tyres now, so I would say that understandably the hard and the medium tyres are quite a conservative choice, but of course this depends on many other factors such as the macro-abrasion of the surface in Austin. We could be looking at a one-stop race although there are other outside circumstances that can always affect this, such as safety cars and the weather. A new track often shakes things up a bit, so I’m sure it will be interesting.”

Technical tyre notes:

As Austin is a brand new circuit, the surface is likely to be ‘green’ and slippery, with a high degree of track evolution over the weekend. A totally new track often has a thin film of greasy oil on the surface, which is released by the asphalt as it settles into place. The race length will be 56 laps.

Turn 11 is also particularly demanding in Texas as the driver starts braking heavily with the car already turning, creating an uneven distribution of forces across the tyres. Good grip from the compound is essential for an effective turn-in.

The cars are likely to run with low gearing and medium downforce, with the set-up not expected to be dissimilar to that of Istanbul Park in Turkey.

The weather can be uncertain in Texas at this time of year, with a 31% chance of rain on any given day on average. The month of November is characterised by rapidly falling daily high temperatures, with daily highs decreasing from 25°C to 19°C over the course of the month, exceeding 29°C or dropping below 13°C only one day in 10.

The tyre choices so far:

PZero Red

PZero Yellow

PZero White

PZero Silver

Australia

Soft

Medium

Malaysia

Medium

Hard

China

Soft

Medium

Bahrain

Soft

Medium

Spain

Soft

Hard

Monaco

Supersoft

Soft

Canada

Supersoft

Soft

Europe

Soft

Medium

Great Britain

Soft

Hard

Germany

Soft

Medium

Hungary

Soft

Medium

Belgium

Medium

Hard

Italy

Medium

Hard

Singapore

Supersoft

Soft

Japan

Soft

Hard

Korea

Supersoft

Soft

India

Soft

Hard

Abu Dhabi

Soft

Medium

United States

Medium

Hard

Pirelli in the United States:

America is a key market for Pirelli, where the full range of P Zero tyres is sold for Ultra High Performance vehicles, as well as a unique P4, P6 and Cinturato P7 ‘Four Seasons’ range for year-round motoring. Pirelli also sells its complete line-up of premium winter tyres in the United States: Winter Sottozero, Winter Carving and Winter Snowcontrol.

Pirelli’s American headquarters is located in Rome, Georgia – which also houses a Research and Development facility along with a factory that uses the patented MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotised System) process. However, 90% of Pirelli tyres sold in the United States are actually made in Latin America.

The Georgia plant produces approximately 400,000 tyres per year. By 2015, Pirelli’s total production in the American continent is expected to rise to 3.9 million tyres. The tyre market in America is growing by an average 2.1% per year.

Pirelli hosts the GP Challenge game in America: a hugely popular online fantasy Formula One game where participants have to predict race results, fastest laps and quickest pit stops to win some big prizes. Among the expert predictors on Pirelli’s panel is Bruce Knox, executive vice president of the Circuit of the Americas.

Other news from Pirelli:

At a recent two-day GP2 test in Barcelona, Luca Filippi topped the times for Coloni using Pirelli tyres. At the Estoril GP3 test that followed it, also exclusively equipped by Pirelli, David Fumanelli was quickest for MW Arden.

The final round of the Pirelli-backed WRC Academy, the Rally of Spain, was won by local man Jose Saurez in a Ford Fiesta R2. Suarez used both Pirelli’s gravel and asphalt rally tyres on the mixed-surface event.

From 1 November, the new European tyre label became law throughout the EU. All new tyres sold now have to carry a label that gives consumers independent information on tyre performance and safety. Pirelli’s Cinturato P7 Blue (inspired by the Formula One wet weather tyre) is the first tyre on the market to score a top ‘AA’ rating on the European tyre label.

Pirelli recently celebrated its 140th birthday, with the Italian tyre company being founded in 1872. To mark the occasion, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera, was received by the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. Giovan Battista Pirelli started the company when he was only 24 years old.

Pirelli’s P Zero fashion range has launched the ‘paddock’ sneaker, inspired by Formula One. This latest product features a grippy sole with a grey and blue suede exterior, reminiscent of a racing shoe. Finishing it all off is the famous ‘long P’ Pirelli logo, in the style of an overall patch.